Vinny Rottino has agreed to a one-year contract with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan's Pacific League.

The deal is worth $350,000 guaranteed and carries another $100,000 in performance-based incentives. Rottino, 32, batted just .148/.232/.328 in 71 plate appearances last season between the Mets and Indians. Mon, Jan 28, 2013 08:49:00 AM

Rottino was outrighted to the minors by the Indians last week but has decided to hit the market rather than accept the assignment. He offers positional versatility but is a career .165/.241/.299 hitter over 110 plate appearances. Mon, Nov 5, 2012 07:27:00 PM

Indians sent OF Vinny Rottino outright to Triple-A Columbus.

Rottino posted a rough .148/.232/.328 batting line in 78 plate appearances this season between the Mets and Indians. The utilityman will be on the outside looking in for an Opening Day roster spot next spring. Wed, Oct 31, 2012 04:30:00 PM

Kelly will miss the remainder of the 2015 season and most of 2016. This could very well be the end of the road for the 35-year-old utilityman, who appeared in just two games this summer for the Marlins.

Giancarlo Stanton admitted Saturday that his recovery from hamate bone surgery is "definitely slower" than expected.

Stanton resumed hitting off a tee recently but conceded that he's still feeling some pain in his left hand. "Getting decent -- the ball's coming off OK," Stanton said. "It's just the pain level of it." The Marlins had been hoping to get the outfielder back sometime in early August, but it sounds like it will be a bit longer. "I have to swing off the tee with no pain first, then we'll go from there," Stanton said. "I don't know when that will be. I'm just doing what I'm supposed to every day."

Alvarez was examined this week by Dr. James Andrews, who apparently recommended the shoulder procedure. The 25-year-old right-hander was limited to just four starts this season because of what was originally labeled shoulder inflammation. It's not clear if he'll be ready by next spring. Shoulders are often trickier than elbows.